i think one of the most interesting things is how, ever since the 19th century, the gothic has become almost synonymous with dark and eerie things, vampires and the like. artists and writers in the 19th century looked at those old and grimy buildings and were like, hell yeah, spooky shit. but it becomes even more interesting when you realise that those dark and grimy buildings weren’t dark or grimy at all when they were built; that darkness comes from years and years of smoke from candles and other grime building up. look at this picture from the restoration of the cathedral of chartres:
how fucking cool is this? so not only are those dark and creepy gothic stories from the 19th century just a fiction of the imagination of 19th century edge lords, but the actual medieval cathedrals were light and colourful. it makes you think about what age in history really deserves the term ‘the dark ages’, huh
Due to the inconsistencies in style her style, I had suspicions that Ariel might be tracing. Deciding to look further into it, I came across a stock photo that looks remarkably similar to this piece of hers here:
From then on more and more evidence of her having traced many, if not all pieces of her art began to emerge. Not only has she been tracing various stock photos:
She used one of the stock photos to trace a commission for tumblr user @looktothehorizon
She’s also traced non stock photography
T.v screen caps
And different other people’s artwork, one belonging to tumblr user @elvishness and another who I couldn’t find the source for.
Tracing stock photos is one thing, but to trace another artist’s work, whether it be their photography or drawings is completely unacceptable. To do that and also charge money for it is beyond believable. @orisoni if you’re going to go around policing other people, claiming that they’re copying your art and stealing your ideas, maybe you should learn not to do that yourself?
The thing is, I don’t think any of this person’s art is traced. It does look like they referenced or were inspired by all of the pictures you’ve found, but there are pretty obvious differences between their art and the original pictures that would be hard for someone who was tracing to make. Additionally, the bottom two pictures are poses that aren’t exactly rare in the art world.
Referencing photos is an excellent tool for every artist. I once had an art teacher who told me that you should never draw something unless you have a reference to look at. I don’t really believe that’s necessary, but her point was that there is this culture that’s recently arisen online in which referencing pictures reflects badly on someone’s skill. Every time I reference a picture from sight only, I worry that someone is going to come along and do exactly what you’ve done to this artist. Plenty of artists have taken pose or piece inspiration from stock photos or other artists, and I’m curious as to why you’ve chosen to attack this particular artist for something so common.
Accusing this artist of tracing, especially tracing for a commission, is a serious claim that could damage this artist’s reputation needlessly. All you’ve really done is shown that they possibly referenced these pictures. You cannot prove that they traced them (I’m inclined to believe they didn’t) and it’s not really your place to police their references or sic the Internet Mob™ on them for a crime (?) that you’re not even sure that they committed. Finally, whether or not they traced the commission is absolutely none of your business, and is between the artist and the person who commissioned them.
I BET THEY TRACED THAT AMAZING COLORING TOO RIGHT
This witchhunt is actually disgusting-
I agree with cellartater on this one. Referencing poses is a key things that many artists do to make sure their work is accurate. It also helps further the ability of an artist. I often look up pose reference to make rough base poses from to practice my art flow.
Honestly, trying to flame an artist who is using reference for POSES alone and claiming they are tracing everything is just…
Every artist is guilty of tracing poses to start off before they gain confidence and draw the poses better and easier on their own. Reference is always the starting point.
This isn’t a beginning artist, she has been drawing for 5+ years. No one once said that artists were not allowed to reference. Every artist does it. That’s not the problem here. The problem is tracing/heavily referencing something and then not giving credit to who you’re referencing from, denying claims of tracing/heavily editing, and blocking or ignoring anyone who tries to discuss the matter with you. Referencing how an artist usually does would not result in the art being able to line up almost identically with the reference. All I’m asking is to not lie and give credit to those who deserve it.
Here’s the thing though. Artists are ALWAYS learning how to better themselves. Five plus years drawing is still pretty small experience considering most artists have spent almost their lifetimes drawing. That’s not even considering how fast an artist can pick up anatomy and shading naturally without having to use references. And even if they are super talented, most artists will continue to use them. I’ve been drawing for 30+ years and rely on looking to photos for references to this day. I had to especially chuckle when you mentioned one of the pictures closely lined up to the hands. OF COURSE it does. Hands are the freaking devil!
I can tell you that artists reference things differently too. Some trace, some simply eyeball it. The link you put up is simply one way an artist can reference.
The artist you talk about in your initial post simply used photos as references for for her fanart. If she had simply redrawn the same people in those pictures or used the same subjects in the other art shown, but she’s clearly changed the subjects at hand and used a different art style to call these pictures her own.
Anyway, a great example of one artist ripping off another is the below gif. The below example is art theft. The stuff you’ve posted isn’t.
Just because she adds things to the drawing and fixes things her own way to make it to her liking doesn’t mean it’s a new art piece or it hasn’t been traced. She’s STILL using theses images as a base and not simply a reference. Like I mentioned above, all I’m asking is to be honest and give credit where it’s due.
Posts like these honestly absolutely terrify me.
I use references. A lot. I’m still uncomfortable with proportions in my less-cartoony style and using those references is how I improve. Every reference I use is either from free stock, stock I’ve paid to use (which is NOT as expensive as OP makes it out to be), pose reference libraries, or other sources such as pornography (live action).
But you know what? That’s why I’m so open about using them. Hell, on my commission page I openly offer slight discounts if someone comes to me with a good free stock reference for a piece they want done.
Posts like these demonize artists for trying to use every resource available to them in an attempt to improve their craft. Posts like these try to ruin artists’ reputation for no obvious gain. They are malicious. And it scares me that people think these callouts are okay.
You know what else pisses me off? This line right here:
Due to the inconsistencies in style her style, I had suspicions that Ariel might be tracing.
People change the way they draw all the time, and it’s not always some gradual improvement. Using my own stuff as an example? I have two very, VERY different styles. Both of which are constantly shifting and evolving. I’ll figure out a new way of drawing eyes that I like, or some such thing, and it’ll be night and day from piece to piece.
Saying “inconsistencies” in the style prompted you to spend what must have been HOURS hunting down the references used for each of these images is an excuse. If it makes you feel better, all power to you. But what this post comes down to is this: The OP wanted to hurt this artist. I don’t know why, and quite frankly I don’t care.
I hope whatever misplaced sense of justice or victory they got from it was worth it, because this shit doesn’t fly in the artist community.
OP: You will be proven wrong time and time again, and each time you will circle back with the same “I’m right you’re wrong lalala” logic.
Referencing is not art theft.
Whatever crusade you were trying to start against this artist has failed.
Sit down while you still have some dignity left.
Reblogging this because there is a very important lesson to be learned from the reblogs that came up in Discord today.
Like seriously the fact they even included the stock image ones is pretty damn weird. They’re stocknimages, most of them are available for use so its not art theft.
Also they diverge pretty quickly so its clearly not traced and being used for proportions and poses
Many artists use stock images for pose references, it’s not traced and even if you did trace a stock image it’s not art theft or wrong to hone your skills that way because tracing a stock photo is not tracing and stealing another person’s art?????
the difference between being blocked on this site vs being blocked on Twitter is so fucking funny
Tumblr: this user’s blog is taking a long time to load, hm…..maybe it’s your connection? Try again another time :)
Twitter: You’re Blocked, You Piece Of Shit. Get the Fuck Out Of My Land
the other big difference is that tumblr blocks people randomly. like the website automatically blocks people for you that youve never seen and blocks you from people youve never even seen.
I’m calling this the ‘perfect au’ wherein Adora and Catra were found by the rebellion instead of the horde and all these kids grew up having fun shenanigans. I know it makes no sense let me have this
people you send them to can be charged with possession of child pornography
you can be charged with distribution of child pornography
don’t take nudes
This is not about body shaming, this is not about ‘telling you what to do with your sexuality’ this is literally a federal crime don’t fuck with the law okay.
I hate people who encourage underage girls on this site to share their bodies. Please report it to tumblr support if you see this. It’s not about “dobbing” people in, it’s a legal issue and is harmful to minors.
Listen if I want to fucking send a nude to my boyfriend of over a year I fucking will I’m pretty god damn sure the government doesn’t have my phone tapped.
the government literally does have your phone tapped… and if you break up with your boyfriend he can ruin your life with those pictures… long story short don’t send underage nudes
if you’re not mature enough to recognize this post as a message to help protect you and educate you then you’re not mature enough to send those nudes in the first place no matter how long you’ve been with your partner. if you view this post as something offensive rather than informative then you need to sit down and think about that. think real hard.
Also note that this isn’t just some hypothetical scaremongering post—there are multiple cases of teenagers who have been arrested, jailed and even put on the sex offender registry for this. It’s a very real danger that could absolutely ruin you life if you’re caught with these pictures of yourselves on your phone or if you send them to someone else who is caught with them on their phone or who, even worse, posts them publicly online.
